Animals exterminated by humans. Animals: those that are not and those that will not be

Scientists state that many species of plants, animals, birds and insects are disappearing from the face of our planet 1,000 times faster than the natural level. This means we are losing between 10 and 130 species every day.

Today, more than 40% of all living species on Earth are threatened with extinction. If these rates of extinction continue or accelerate, the number of endangered species in the next decades will be in the millions. Of course, this is a reason for every inhabitant of the planet to think, because the disappearance of individual species inevitably leads to global environmental problems, threatening the stability of the entire Earth's ecosystem.

Today we offer a look at 15 species of animals that are under threat complete disappearance due to human fault.

2. Sumatran and Bornean orangutan

Habitat loss due to over-logging and conversion to farming Agriculture and road construction are major issues critical to both orangutan species. Currently, despite the creation of national parks, forests continue to be cut down illegally. In addition, poaching of cubs for the purpose of their further sale poses a serious danger.

Over the past 75 years, the number of orangutans inhabiting Sumatra has decreased by more than 80% and continues to decline inexorably. In Borneo, the population has declined by more than 50% over the past 60 years.

2. Iberian (Spanish) lynx

The Iberian lynx is classified as an animal “in critical condition" These data are taken from the Red List of Threatened Animals (compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature).

According to some sources, there are only a little more than 200 Iberian lynxes left on the planet. Although around US$35 million has been allocated to save these wild cats, a group of scientists recently called their situation critical. Among the just over 200 individuals living in wildlife, only 22-32 females are ready to breed. According to Guzman, the salvation of the Iberian lynx depends on them. However, sad as it may be, the history of the Iberian lynx is just one of many black pages from the life of our smaller brothers.

3. White Rhinoceros

Rhino - critically endangered, Sumatran, black and Javan rhinoceros- are critically endangered.

In the wild, an adult rhinoceros has virtually no enemies except humans. The main threat All rhino species are subject to poaching. Rhino horn is a very valuable commodity on the black market and is used for both ornamental and medicinal purposes.
In Chinese medicine, rhinoceros horn is considered good remedy against fever and an effective aphrodisiac. On the black market, the cost of a kilogram of rhinoceros horns reaches $30,000. If you feel like you have nothing to do with it, think about all the different Chinese drugs that end up in our pharmacies.

4. Whale shark

Currently, there is no accurate data on the number of whale sharks living in the wild. Some researchers report that there are only about
1,000 individuals.

The main threat to the existence of whale sharks is, of course, their commercial fishing. Despite current fishing bans, shark fishing in countries South-East Asia and India continues. A feature of the development of whale sharks is their very long puberty and slow reproduction rates, making rapid population recovery impossible. Every year the number of whale sharks in the world decreases by 5% - 6%.

5. Sifaka

Sifakas are a genus of lemurs, members of the Indriidae family. There are several types of sifaka: Verreaux's sifaka, Walnut sifaka, Crowned sifaka, Golden crowned sifaka, Silky and Perrier sifakas. All of them live only on the island of Madagascar.

Habitat loss due to active logging and burning of forests in the region and ongoing hunting of lemurs are the main threats to the existence of this amazing animal.

6. Woolly-nosed wombat

The largest among the gentle wombats. By the way, he runs at a speed of 40 km/h. But that doesn't save him. There are about a hundred of these left in the world, and they are in one Australian reserve.

7. Wild Bactrian camel Who would believe that there are less than a thousand of them left in the world. It is assumed that in another 10-20 years, there will be none left. They are hunted, they are scared away during construction, and finally, they simply interbreed with domestic camels, and the offspring in such cases are infertile.

8. Amur tiger

Major existential threat big cats There has always been poaching. Tiger bone is worth its weight in gold on the Chinese black market, while tiger skin is a coveted trophy.

At the end of the 1980s, the demand for tiger bone increased sharply; well-organized gangs of poachers at this time greatly reduced the tiger population. It was only by 1993 that programs for the conservation of the Amur tiger were resumed, and already in 1996 their number approached 430. Today, the number of tigers living in the wild is estimated at 431 – 529 individuals.

Large-scale illegal logging and forest fires, depriving them of their usual habitats, have also become a serious threat to tigers.

9. Red wolf

About 30 years ago, the last 17 red wolves were brought together in an attempt to restore their population. It was possible to increase their numbers to almost a hundred, but the American forests where the wolves were released are being cut down, and the poor creatures are still in danger of extinction.

10. Leatherback turtle

These turtles feed on jellyfish and are able to dive to incredible depths for them. But, alas, they often get confused and swallow plastic bags thrown away by people, which is why they die. Several decades ago, there were more than 115 thousand females of such turtles. Now their number has decreased to about 30 thousand.

11. Galapagos tortoise or elephant tortoise

It is believed that by the beginning of the 20th century, more than 200,000 elephant turtles were destroyed. This led to the fact that on Charles and Barington islands turtles became completely extinct, and on others they disappeared almost completely.

In addition, natural habitats for agriculture were destroyed, and alien animals such as rats, pigs and goats were introduced and spread, becoming competitors for the turtles in obtaining food.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, much effort has been made to restore the population of Galapagos tortoises. The captive-bred cubs were released on the islands in their natural habitat. Today the number of elephant turtles is more than 19,000 individuals.

12. Saharan gazelle

Once upon a time, countless herds of these beauties ran in the African deserts. But firearms did its job, now there are at most a hundred of them left.

13. African elephant

In the 20th century, the number African elephants decreased exponentially. Poaching of ivory has acquired a monstrous scale. Thus, during the 10 years preceding the international ban on ivory trade (1990), the number of African elephants fell by half. Kenya was one of the countries where African elephants were virtually wiped out. Between 1973 and 1989, the number of elephants here declined by 85%. In Burundi, Gambia, Mauritania and Swaziland, elephants have disappeared completely.

Currently African elephant formally has government protection, and in some areas, recently there has been an increase in numbers by an average of 4%. However, poaching is still rampant.

14. Western gorilla

Back in 2007, western gorillas were listed as endangered species.

Poaching, commercial logging and climate change are all disrupting the ecological balance of the habitat and leading to the gradual extinction of the western gorilla population.

But perhaps the biggest threat to the existence of gorillas today is the Ebola virus, which is wiping out individuals of this species, including in protected areas. From 1992 to 2011, over a period of 20 years, the number of western gorillas declined by 45%. At present, the Ebola virus may deplete the western gorilla population to a critical point where recovery is no longer possible.

15. Giant Panda

The giant panda is currently found only in some mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan province and in smaller numbers in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. As a result of human activity and deforestation, giant pandas have been driven out of the low-lying areas where they once lived.

Since ancient times, the giant panda has been a target of poaching not only for locals who hunt them for their soft skin, but also for foreigners.

Population big panda is inexorably declining every year, which is largely due to the extremely low birth rate both in the wild and in captivity. Scientists estimate that there are currently about 1,600 individuals left on Earth.

World Animal Day, designed to unite people's efforts to preserve the animal world of our planet and protect the rights of domestic animals, is celebrated on October 4. Every day dozens of flora and fauna are disappearing on Earth. One of the ways to fight for the preservation of biodiversity on our planet is to protect rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

Snow leopard (irbis)- a rare, small species. In the Red Book of the Russian Federation, it is assigned the first category - “a species that is in danger of extinction at the limit of its range.” The total number of snow leopards in Russia, according to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) experts, is no more than 80-100 individuals.

Amur tiger- one of the rarest predators on the planet, the largest tiger in the world, the only representative of the species living in the snow. The Amur tiger is listed in the International Red Book; in Russia, these animals live only in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories. According to the latest census, the population rare beast in the Russian Federation there are about 450 individuals.

Far Eastern leopard– a subspecies of leopards of the class of mammals, order of carnivores, family of cats. This is one of the rarest representatives of the cat family in the world. Many experts believe Far Eastern leopard the most beautiful subspecies of leopards and is often compared to the snow leopard. The south of Primorsky Krai is the only habitat of the Far Eastern leopard in Russia. According to the latest census, there are currently about 50 leopards living in the Ussuri taiga. Scientists from many countries and WWF are concerned about the conservation of the endangered species.

Manul- a rare predator of the steppes and semi-steppes of Eurasia - listed in the international and Russian Red Books. This wild cat has a status close to threatened. According to scientists, the animal's population is declining. In addition, it is threatened by poachers, and there is a threat of disappearance of suitable habitats. Russia is the northernmost habitat of this animal; here the Pallas's cat is found mainly in the mountain-steppe and desert-steppe landscapes of the southeast of the Altai Republic, in the republics of Tuva, Buryatia, as well as in the southeastern part of the Trans-Baikal Territory.

Komodo dragon- a species of lizard from the monitor lizard family, the largest lizard of the world fauna. According to one hypothesis, it was the monitor lizards of the Indonesian island of Komodo that served as the prototype Chinese dragon: An adult Varanus Komodoensis can exceed three meters in length and weigh more than one and a half quintals. This one large lizard on Earth, which kills a deer with one blow of its tail, is found only in Indonesia and is among the endangered species of animals.

Over the past 20 years, the number Sumatran rhinoceroses decreased by about 50% due to poaching and deforestation. Currently, only about 200 representatives of this species live in Southeast Asia. There are five species of rhinoceros known in the world: three in South and Southeast Asia and two in Africa. All species of rhinoceroses are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. WWF reported in October of this year that one species of rhinoceros - the Javan - was completely destroyed in Vietnam.

Loggerhead- view sea ​​turtles, the only representative of the genus of loggerhead sea turtles, or loggerhead sea turtles. This species is widespread in the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, in the Mediterranean Sea, loggerhead can be found in the Far East (Peter the Great Bay) and in the Barents Sea (near Murmansk). The meat of this turtle was considered far from the most delicious; only local tribes consumed it, but its eggs were a delicacy. Their unlimited collection has led to a very serious decline in the number of this turtle species over the past 50-100 years. This species of turtle is listed under the Convention on international trade species of wild flora and fauna and included in the Red Book, protected by the laws of Cyprus, Greece, USA, Italy.

Sea otter or sea otter, - predatory marine mammal family of mustelids, a species close to otters. Sea otter has a number unique features adaptations to marine environment habitat, and is also one of the few non-primate animals that use tools. Sea otters live on the northern shores Pacific Ocean in Russia, Japan, USA and Canada. In the 18th-19th centuries, sea otters were subjected to predatory extermination because of their valuable fur, as a result of which the species was on the verge of extinction. In the twentieth century, sea otters were listed in the Red Book of the USSR, as well as in the protection documents of other countries. As of 2009, hunting sea otters is virtually prohibited in all regions of the world. Only the indigenous population of Alaska - the Aleuts and Eskimos - are allowed to hunt sea otters, and exclusively to support folk crafts and diet, historically developed in this region.

Bison is the heaviest and largest land mammals on the European continent and the last European representative of wild bulls. Its length is 330 cm, height at the withers is up to two meters, and its weight reaches one ton. Destruction of forests, increasing density of human settlements and intensive hunting in the 17th and XVIII centuries exterminated the bison in almost all European countries. At the beginning of the 19th century, wild bison apparently remained only in two regions: the Caucasus and Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The number of animals was about 500 and declined over the course of a century, despite protection Russian authorities. In 1921, as a result of the anarchy during and after the First World War, the bison were finally exterminated by poachers. As a result of the targeted activities of many specialists, as of December 31, 1997, there were 1,096 bison in the world in captivity (zoos, nurseries and other reserves), and 1,829 individuals in free populations. The IUCN Red Book classifies this species as vulnerable; in Russia, the Red Book (1998) placed the bison in category 1 - endangered.

African wild dog, or, as it is also called, hyena-like, was once widespread throughout African steppes and savannahs south of the Sahara - from southern Algeria and Sudan to the extreme southern tip of the continent. The wild dog is included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a small species that is in danger of extinction.

Florida cougar, along with other representatives of its subspecies, is listed in the International Red Book. Hunting for it is prohibited; in addition, the animal is included in Appendix II of the CITES convention, which regulates trade in rare species of animals. Previously, the puma inhabited territories in the south North America, as well as Central and South America all the way to Chile. At the same time, a separate population existed in Florida. In the 60s of the last century, due to shooting and development natural areas The number of Florida cougars has dropped to 20-30 individuals. Thanks to conservation efforts, these small wild cats with their characteristic long paws the population currently stands at 100-160 individuals.

California condor- Very rare view birds from the American vulture family. The California condor was once distributed throughout the North American continent. In 1987, when the last free-living condor was captured, the total number was 27. However, thanks to good reproduction in captivity, they began to be released again in 1992. As of November 2010, there were 381 condors, including 192 birds in the wild.

Orangutans- representatives of arboreal apes, one of the close relatives of humans. Unfortunately, orangutans are endangered in the wild, mainly due to ongoing habitat destruction. Despite the creation of national parks, deforestation continues. Another serious threat is poaching.

Last wild ones Przewalski's horses disappeared from nature in the 1960s, by which time they survived only in the desert regions of Dzungaria - on the border of China and Mongolia. But a thousand or more years ago, these animals were widespread in steppe zone Eurasia. Currently, there are only about two thousand individuals in the world kept in zoos. About 300-400 more horses live in the steppes of Mongolia and China, also descending from animals from zoos.

Gray whale listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Whales live in the North Pacific Ocean, making regular seasonal migrations. These sea animals hold the record for the longest range of movements: a whale swims an average of 16 thousand kilometers per year. At the same time, the whale is quite slow-moving, its usual speed is 7-10 kilometers per hour. According to zoologists, the maximum recorded lifespan of the gray whale was 67 years.

The population of which is either falling at a rapid pace, or is improving, but is still catastrophically small.

Natural phenomena and human factor are one of the main reasons for the decline in the numbers of some rare animals.

The rarest animals on Earth are included in the International Red Book.

Here is just a small part of these unique representatives of the animal world.

15

Rare animals of the world: Tarantula spider (Poecilotheria metallica)

In addition to being incredibly rare, this member of the animal kingdom is also one of the most beautiful tarantulas. This spider lives in the tropical forests of southwestern India, building houses high in the treetops. Younger representatives of this species live at the roots of the tree, where they can dig holes and weave thick webs around them. In case of danger, they hide in their holes.

14

Animals listed in the International Red Book: Madagascar beak-breasted turtle (Astrochelys yniphora)

This type land turtles, also known as the critically endangered angonoka. Endemic to Madagascar, the IUCN Rare Species Commission has declared it one of the most “vulnerable” animal species on our planet. Today, Angonoku can be found in a small area in the north-west of the island of Madagascar. The density of these animals in nature does not exceed 5 individuals per square kilometer. In total there are 250-300 individuals per 100 square meters. km. In captivity you can find 50 representatives of this species.

13

Animals from the Red Book: Peters's proboscis blenny (Rhynchocyon petersi)

This rare animal species is listed in the International Red Book as “at risk of becoming extinct.” Also known as the red-shouldered blenny, this mammal, a member of the jumping family, lives in Africa. The species received its name in honor of the German zoologist Wilhelm Peters. Peters's proboscis blenny can be found in the forests of southeastern Kenya and northeastern Tanzania.

12

Animals of the Red Book (photo): Angelfish (Squatina squatina)

Listed as a Critically Endangered Species on the International Red List, the sea angelfish (also known as the European squatfish) can be found in the seas of the northeast Atlantic, particularly in the hot and temperate zones. Representatives of this species of shark from the order Squatinidae are similar to stingrays due to their enlarged pectoral and ventral fins. They are most often found on the ocean floor and feed mainly on flounder fish.

11

Animals of the International Red List: Northern long-haired wombat (Lasiorhinus)

Being on the verge of extinction, this wombat is considered one of the rarest animals on our planet. There are fewer of them on Earth than Sumatran tigers. There is only one extremely small population left in national park Epping Forest, which is located in the center of Queensland, Australia. Scientists believe that the reason for the decrease in the population of these animals is changes in their habitat. Add to this the fact that wombats are the favorite prey of dingoes. Wombats usually live in eucalyptus forests, meadows with lush grass and loose soil.

10

Animals listed in the Red Book: Hunter's bubal (Beatragus hunteri)

Also known as hirola, this species from the genus hirola is listed as a Critically Endangered Species on the Red List. The hirola lives in the northeastern regions of Kenya and the southwestern regions of Somalia. Before this species became rare, its representatives inhabited an area of ​​17,900 - 20,500 square meters. km. Today, their distribution area is about 8,000 square meters. km.

9

Rare animals from the Red Book: Small-toothed sawfly (Pristis microdon)

Also listed in the Red Book as a “Critically Endangered Species”, the sawnose ray is a fish from the family of saw-nosed rays. The habitat of these representatives of the animal world is the waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Sometimes these rays can enter rivers.

8

Animal species in the Red Book: Tonkin rhinopithecus (Rhinopithecus avunculus)

This species of mammal of the monkey family is also on the verge of extinction. Already at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, the range was quite limited. Representatives of this species were found only in the forest near the Song Coy River in Vietnam. Tonkin Rhinopithecus was discovered in the provinces of Tien Kwang and Vac Tai. IN given time monkeys can also be found in several other provinces of Vietnam.

7

Rare and endangered animals: Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

This mammal from the genus of Sumatran rhinoceroses is listed in the International Red Book as a “Critically Endangered Species”. Moreover, it is the only surviving member of its genus and the smallest member of the rhinoceros family. Animal habitat lowland and mountain secondary forests, humid rainforests and swamps located at an altitude of up to 2,500 meters above sea level.

6

Rare and endangered animal species: Spotted-tailed marsupial marten (Dasyurus maculatus)

This species is listed in the Red Book as “Nearly Vulnerable”. The tiger cat (as it is also called) is the second largest marsupial predator, with the Tasmanian devil taking first place. It is also worth noting that the tiger cat is the largest marsupial predator on mainland Australia. Currently, the Spotted-tailed marsupial marten can be seen in two isolated populations - one located in northern Queensland, Australia, and the other in east coast, in an area that stretches from southern Queensland to Tasmania. It usually lives in humid rain forests and among coastal thickets.

5

Rare species of animals from the Red Book: Philippine sika deer (Cervus alfredi)

The fur of this rare animal has a reddish-golden color. Small white spots are “scattered” against this background. Habitat: tropical forests of the islands of the Philippine archipelago. We managed to capture this deer on film quite recently. It is worth noting that the main enemy of this animal is the wolf. Most deer die in March-April - the season when animals are weakened by wintering.

4

Rare endangered animals: Visayas warty pig (Sus cebifrons)

This animal was included in the World Red Book in 1988. In just 60 years (3 generations of the Visayas warty pig), the number of this representative of the fauna has decreased by 80%. The reasons for the catastrophic decline in the population are uncontrolled hunting, transformation natural environment habitats and inbreeding. Today, this animal can only be found on 2 islands - Negro and Panay.

3

Very rare animals: Florida cougar (Puma concolor coryi)

Listed as a Critically Endangered Species on the International Red List, this animal is the rarest of the puma species. In 2011, their number on Earth was only about 160 individuals (despite the fact that in the 1970s, this figure dropped to 20). The usual habitat of this puma is forests and swamps. South Florida(USA), mainly to occupy the area of ​​the Big Cypress National Preserve. The number of these animals began to fall mainly due to the draining of swamps, sport hunting and poisoning.

2

Rare animals of Africa: White lion

It is worth noting that the white lion is a specific polymorphism with a genetic disease - leucism, which leads to a lighter coat color. Despite the fact that this manifestation is, in fact, the opposite of melanism, white lions are still not albino - they have natural pigmentation of their eyes and skin. The fact that white lions exist was proven only at the end of the 20th century. In 1975, white lion cubs were first discovered in the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa.

Rare animals: white lion (video)

1

Rare protected animals: Irbis, or snow leopard (Uncia uncia, Panthera uncia)

It's big carnivorous mammal lives in the mountains of Central Asia. The snow leopard, a member of the cat family, has a thin, long, flexible body and rather short legs. It is also distinguished by its small head and long tail. Today the number of snow leopards is very small. It was included in the IUCN Red Book (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Red Book of Russia, and other protection documents of various countries.

In the 4.5 billion years that Earth has existed, there has been a mass extinction of certain biological species observed at least five times. Reasons dramatic changes in the form of flora and fauna there were, as a rule, global natural disasters.

Scientists believe that a climate similar to the modern one was established approximately 10–35 thousand years ago. And yet, many species of animals, birds, fish and plants continue to gradually disappear. The main culprit in their death is a person who conducts aggressive economic activities and thoughtlessly consumes natural resources. Endangered species of animals are everywhere, in all corners and countries of the world, including in Russia.

Animals that no longer exist

Now you can see extinct animals only on the pages of encyclopedias, but many of them lived in Russia some 50–100 years ago. A striking example of this is the Turanian tiger, destroyed in the middle of the last century. The extinct predator weighed 240 kg, had long-haired thick fur and a bright red color, and was the closest relative of the Amur tiger. Before his disappearance, he lived in the south of Turkey and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Iran. In Russia, the extinct Turanian tigers lived in the North Caucasus.

One of the recently extinct species is the Eurasian wild horse, better known as the tarpan. It is believed that this individual died at the hands of man in 1879. The habitat of animals was the steppes Western Siberia and the European part of the country. Externally, tarpans looked like short (height at the withers - up to 135 cm), stocky horses. Representatives of this species were distinguished by their endurance, had a thick wavy mane and a color from dirty yellow to black-brown.

A little earlier, at the end of the 18th century, people exterminated the sea (Steller's) cow - a slow aquatic mammal with a weight reaching 10 tons and a length of more than 9 meters. The animal ate seaweed and led a sedentary lifestyle. By the time of the discovery by Vitus Bering's expedition (1741), representatives of this species were found only near the Commander Islands. Their population, according to scientists, numbered no more than 2,000 individuals.

The ancestor of the domestic bull, the aurochs, finally disappeared in the first third of the 17th century, although 2.5 millennia before that it was ubiquitous in North Africa, Western Asia and Europe. In Russia, extinct animals lived in both steppes and forests. At the withers they reached 2 meters and weighed up to 1.2 tons. Characteristics Turs were: large head, long developed horns, strong and high limbs, red, black-brown and black color. The animals were distinguished by their evil disposition, speed and remarkable strength.

One of the long-extinct animals is the cave bear, which lived in the wooded part of Eurasia during the Paleolithic era. He had strong paws and a large head, and thick fur. The weight of a cave bear could reach 900 kg. Despite its large size (1.5 times larger than a grizzly bear), the animal was distinguished by its peaceful character: it ate exclusively honey and plants. Scientists suggest that this type of bear disappeared 15 thousand years ago as a result of climate change and hunting by Neanderthals.

When faced with the problem of the disappearance of animals and plants, you understand how fragile and defenseless the world around us is. The Red Book of the Russian Federation, published in 2001, included 415 fauna representatives. Of these, 65 species belong to the class of mammals. Humanity may say goodbye to some rare animals in the near future if it does not make enough efforts to protect them.

Below is a list of rapidly disappearing animals that are still found in Russia:

• Tarbagan is a large short-tailed marmot that lives in Transbaikalia. Body length is 50–65 cm, color is sandy yellow with black or dark brown ripples. Number (in the Russian Federation) – 38 thousand.
• Common longwing – bat, which has a high flight speed (70 km/h). Lives in caves in Krasnodar and Primorsky regions. Number – 5–7 thousand.
• Ussuri tiger – large (weighs 200–220 kg) wild cat, adapted to live in the difficult conditions of the North. Has a red color, turning into White color on the chest, belly and inside paw Number – 400–500 individuals.
• Irbis or snow leopard has a whitish-gray spotted “coat” with thick, long-haired fur. Representative of the cat family. Lives in high mountain areas. Number – 80–150 individuals.

Perhaps one of the rarest animals living only in Russia is the Mednovsky blue fox (or polar fox). The animal lives on Medny Island in the Komandorsky archipelago. Its length is up to 75 cm, weight is up to 3.5 kg. In summer the color of the animal is gray-red, in winter it is white with a blue tint. Number - no more than 100 individuals.

Endangered birds

On this moment 123 species of birds living in the Russian Federation are considered rare. Birds often become victims of predators, die from hunger and cold, and cannot withstand long flights across oceans and seas. In addition to natural causes, anthropogenic factors lead to a decline in the number of species and loss of biological diversity of birds. Birds are dying en masse due to pollution of water bodies with oil products, disruption of the habitat caused by the draining of swamps, plowing of steppes, etc.

Birds that require special care include:

• white-backed albatross;
• mountain goose;
• Far Eastern stork;
• yellow-billed heron;
• red-footed ibis;
• red kite;
• Manchurian bearded partridge;
• marbled teal;
• long-tailed eagle;
• pink pelican;
• white-headed duck;
• steppe kestrel;
• dry nose;
• Ussuri crane;
• crested shelduck.

Populations of Siberian Cranes or white cranes are on the verge of extinction. This large birds(weigh up to 8.6 kg) with a wingspan of 2.2–2.3 m. Siberian cranes live in the north of the Russian Federation. The Yakut bird population numbers 3 thousand individuals. A critical situation with white cranes has developed in Western Siberia. Since there are about 20 birds left there, the Flight of Hope program is being implemented to restore the population.

In Russia, wigglers, representatives of the bustard family, have practically disappeared. In other words, these birds are also called jacks and houbara bustards. The body length of the birds is 55–75 cm, weight – 1.2–3.2 kg. Previously, the birds were found in the foothills of Altai, but now they can only be seen near the border with Mongolia, in the extreme south of Tyva.

It is not often that one can see a relict gull in the Russian expanses: it nests in the Chita region, on the island of Barun-Torey. The size of the local population varies greatly at different periods of time (from 100 to 1200 pairs of birds), depending on changes in the water level in the reservoir and weather conditions.

Inhabitants of the deep waters: fish, crustaceans and molluscs

The decline in the number of some fish species is a consequence of river pollution, wastewater regulation, and poaching. It is noteworthy that the death of aquatic inhabitants, like birds, is increasingly widespread. In winter, fish kills are caused by severe, prolonged frosts, and in summer by excess toxins released by algae blooms. Among the endangered aquatic inhabitants, many are representatives of the sturgeon family. Rare fish such as thorn, kaluga and Azov beluga are predators. Most sturgeon feed on benthos, consisting of algae, flowering plants, and bottom animals. Endangered fish species in Russia include: common taimen, lenok, sea lamprey, Dnieper barbel, Kilda cod.

Crustaceans that deserve the close attention of environmental services are Deryugin craboids, mantis crabs, Japanese crabs. A number of mollusks are endangered in Russia: Zimina and Alimova's arsenium, Tuinova's pearl mussel, Maak's lanceolaria, Primorye carbicula, Thomas's rapana, Buldov's cylindrical. It is worth noting that the decline in the population of aquatic animals does not pass without leaving a trace. It provokes the uncontrolled spread of plants and leads to a decrease in the number of seabirds or their migration.

The key reason for the extinction of certain insect species is related to economic activity person. On the verge of extinction in Russia were:

• Felder's Apollo;
• warty omias;
• wavy brachycerus;
• blue arcte;
• Argali blueberry;
• Gebler's ground beetle;
• wrinkled mower;
• gloomy wave;
• excellent marshmallows;
• reticulate beauty;
• Owl Asteropethes;
• steppe fatty;
• four-spotted stephanocleonus;
• Parrey's clicker.

A decrease in the number of insects invariably leads to a serious imbalance in ecosystems: the replacement of some plants by others, the disappearance of birds and amphibians from their usual habitats.

Amphibians and reptiles are victims of both accidental and targeted extermination. Amphibians and reptiles often die under the wheels of cars or at the hands of farmers. Frogs, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles are hunted in many countries for the purpose of obtaining meat and leather raw materials, as well as making souvenirs. Recognized as endangered species in Russia Mediterranean turtles and gray geckos. The number of vipers, Kaznakov's and Dinnik's vipers, Far Eastern tortoises, Lantz's common newts, Ussuri clawed newts, Caucasian cross and toads, and reed toads is steadily declining in the country.

Thus, hundreds of animal species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The largest endangered groups are birds and insects.

05.12.2017 26.01.2019 Alexander Firtsev

Have you ever seen Bali tiger or marsupial wolf? Most likely no…

It’s a shame, but there will no longer be a chance to see these amazing animals live, since they were recently declared extinct.

Despite all the efforts of organizations to protect endangered animals, some species are periodically listed as extinct and many are on the verge of extinction. The main culprit in the disappearance of animals in our time is man.

Today we will tell you about 15 striking representatives of the fauna that became extinct quite recently, literally over the last 100 years.

Considered extinct since 1922.

The Barbary lion lived in North African semi-deserts, steppes and forests, and was also common in the Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa.

The main distinguishing features of the predator are a very thick mane and large size. Male Barbary lions weighed from 160 to 250 kilograms, females weighed an order of magnitude less - from 100 to 170 kg. The mane of the Barbary lion grew not only on the neck and head, it went far beyond the shoulders and also grew on the stomach.

IN Ancient Rome Entertaining competitions involving the Barbary lion were common; its opponent was usually the Turanian tiger, which also became extinct.

The reason for the extinction of the subspecies is considered to be targeted extermination due to frequent attacks by Barbary lions on livestock, the number of predators decreased especially strongly after they began to use firearms for shooting.

The last Barbary lion was killed in 1922 in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

Considered extinct since 1927.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The Syrian kulan was widespread on the Arabian Peninsula, living in deserts, semi-deserts, dry meadows and mountain steppes. Lived in Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

The main component in the diet of the Syrian kulan was grass, leaves of bushes and trees.

The Syrian kulan was one of the smallest representatives of horses, its height at the withers was only one meter. Also his to distinctive features The color of the kulan's fur can be attributed to changing depending on the season: in summer, the color of the kulan's fur was olive, and in winter it acquired a sandy and even pale yellow color.

Last wild representative The subspecies was shot in 1927 near the Azraq oasis in Jordan, and the last specimen living in captivity died the same year at the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna (Austria).

3. Marsupial wolf (thylacine)

Considered extinct since 1936.

Marsupial wolves at the New York Zoo, 1902.

The marsupial wolf (or Tasmanian wolf) is the only representative of this family that survived into the historical era.

The thylacine was the largest marsupial predator of our time, its weight was 20-25 kg, its height at the withers reached 60 centimeters, and its body length was 1-1.3 meters (with a tail - 1.5-1.8 m).

It is known that in ancient times (the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene) stylacine lived on the territory of mainland Australia, as well as on the island of New Guinea; about 3000 years ago, marsupial wolves were forced out of their territory by dingo dogs, brought there by people from Southeast Asia.

In historical times, marsupial wolves lived only on the island of Tasmania - where dingoes did not penetrate.

The reason for the extinction of the Tasmanian wolf, as in a number of other cases, is mass extermination by humans. The marsupial wolf was considered the main enemy of Tasmanian farmers; it attacked sheep and ravaged poultry houses. In the 30s of the 19th century, mass hunting of predators began; the authorities gave rewards to hunters for the head of each killed animal.

After prolonged shooting, the number of thylacines decreased; rare specimens were found only in hard-to-reach areas. In addition to shooting, severe damage to the population of Tasmanian wolves was caused by a viral disease that flared up at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1914, there were only a few marsupial wolves.

The last marsupial wolf living in the wild was killed on May 13, 1930, and in 1936 the last individual kept in a private zoo in Hobart died of old age.

In March 2017, the media reported that animals similar to the thylacine were caught on video traps in Cape York Park. For reasons of keeping the animal's habitat secret, the photographs were not presented to the public. There was no official confirmation that it was the marsupial wolf that was captured.

Considered extinct since 1937.

Illustration: ru.wikipedia.org

Gray's kangaroos lived in the south and southeast of Australia. Individuals of this species could be found in open spaces near eucalyptus forests, in which these animals hid during the rains.

The animal was named in honor of Sir George Gray, who served as Governor of South Australia from 1812 to 1898.

Like other members of the kangaroo family, Gray's kangaroos ate plant foods, mostly foliage of shrubs and trees.

The main cause of extinction is considered to be poaching - people hunted kangaroos for their fur and meat. In addition, scientists believe that the reason for the decline in the population of Gray's wild kangaroos is attacks on us by predatory animals.

Gray's last wild kangaroo was killed in 1924, and the last individual living in the national park died in 1937.

Declared extinct in 1937.

Photo: animalreader.ru

The Bali tiger lived exclusively on the island of Bali (Indonesia); most often this representative of the cat could be found in local forests.

The Bali tiger was one of the smallest representatives of the tiger species. The weight of males was 90-100 kg, females were slightly smaller, their weight rarely exceeded 80 kg, usually 65-75 kg. The body length of adult males was in the region of 120-230 centimeters, females - from 93 to 183 cm.

The lifespan of Bali tigers is 8-10 years.

After the killing of the first Bali tiger in 1911, representatives of this subspecies began to be of interest to hunters. Due to the relatively small area of ​​habitat of these animals, Bali tigers were very quickly exterminated.

The last female was killed in the western part of the island. The subspecies was officially declared extinct in 1937.

Considered extinct since 1938.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The Schomburgk's deer lived in central Thailand in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It could be found on swampy plains overgrown with bushes, reeds and tall grass.

During the rainy season and floods, Schomburgk's deer left the marshy areas and rose to higher ground, becoming easy prey for hunters.

Representatives of this species were named after the British consul in Bangkok, Sir Robert Schomburgk, who worked there from 1857 to 1864.

According to scientists main reason The extinction of the Schomburgk's deer is the development of the infrastructure of cities located near the animals' habitats. The draining of swamps and the construction of roads and enterprises have virtually destroyed the habitats of this animal. In addition, hunters and poachers made their “contribution” to the disappearance of this species.

It is known that the last Schomburgk's deer living in the wild was killed in 1932, and the last individual living in the zoo died in 1938.

Considered extinct since 1950.

Photo: Harvard Museum of Natural History/Peabody Museum

The island hutia lived exclusively on the island of Little Cisne in the Caribbean Sea (territory of Gohonduras). Due to the fact that the base of the island on which the Huti lived consists mainly of coral rock, these animals, as a rule, could not dig holes, so they settled in the crevices of the coral rock.

Representatives of the species were herbivores. Their weight could reach one kilogram, and the body length of an adult was 33-35 centimeters. The sizes of males practically did not differ from the sizes of females.

It is believed that the island's Hutias were exterminated by cats brought to the island by people. The last mention of these creatures dates back to 1950.

The species has been considered extinct since 1952. It was officially declared extinct only in 2008.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The Caribbean monk seal was the only representative of the seal genus to live in the Caribbean Sea. They could be found on sandy beaches, as well as reef lagoons.

IN last time Caribbean monk seals were spotted in the western Caribbean in 1952 and have not been seen since. During an expedition conducted in the Caribbean in 1980, scientists did not find a single monk seal.

According to zoologists, the main reason for the extinction of Caribbean monk seals is the negative impact of human activities on the environment.

Considered extinct since the 1960s.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The Mexican grizzly lived in forests and could be found in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Northern Durango in Mexico; in addition, individuals of this species were also found in the United States - in the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

The last time a live Mexican grizzly was seen was in 1960.

The extinction of Mexican grizzlies is associated with uncontrolled hunting of them, as well as with human development of the habitats of these animals.

In 1959, the Mexican government banned hunting of Mexican grizzlies, but this measure was too late and did not help save the population.

Considered extinct since 1974.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The Japanese sea lion lived in the Sea of ​​Japan on the west and east coasts of Japan, as well as on the east coast of Korea.

In addition, it could be found on the Ryukyu Island (Japan), on south coast Russian Far East, on the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The main reason for the extinction of Japanese sea ​​lion They are considered to be hunted and chased by fishermen.

Scientists estimate that in the 19th century the population of Japanese sea lions numbered from 30 to 50 thousand individuals. Uncontrolled hunting of them and development of their habitats has led to a terrifying reduction in their numbers. The last reliable information about 50-60 individuals was obtained in 1951, when a small population was discovered on the Liancourt Islands.

The last time a Japanese sea lion was seen was in 1974 on the coast small island Rebun. Since that time, no one has seen these animals again.

11. Canarian Black Oystercatcher

Declared extinct in 1994.

Photo: fishki.net

The Canary Black Oystercatcher inhabited the territory West Africa on the Atlantic coast. This bird also suffered at the hands of humans. It is worth noting that people did not hunt this bird, but still brought it to starvation.